An Update on the Detoxification Processes for Silica Particles and Asbestos Fibers: Successess and Limitations

Abstract

Inhalation of asbestos fibers and crystalline silica produces a number of diseases including fibrosis and cancer. Investigations into the mechanisms involved in mineral particle-induced toxicity indicated the importance of their surfaces in the pathological consequences. Masking of the surface sites has therefore featured prominently in a number of detoxification processes that have been investigated. The majority of the detoxification processes were, however, conducted to elucidate the involvement of a particular surface site in the toxicity of a specific mineral. Others were investigated with the aim of large industrial applications to be applied during mining, handling, processing, transporting, and disposing of minerals. It can be concluded that, to date, there is no single detoxification process that could be applied universally to all different types of mineral particles. Those that have shown some success could not completely abolish all adverse effects. Further elucidation of mechanisms of particle-induced toxicity may open new possibilities for detoxification processes.

The Iron‐Related Molecular Toxicity Mechanism of Synthetic Asbestos Nanofibres: A Model Study for High‐Aspect‐Ratio Nanoparticles

“…A) Chrysotile structure adapted from Fubini and Otero, 1999. [23] B) Crystal structure of chrysotile (XtalDraw adapted from lizardite by Mellini, 1982) [14] as seen along [110]. Silica tetrahedra (T) share an apical oxygen with octahedral brucitic layers (O), whereas the other three oxygen atoms are electrostatically bound to OH groups from the octahedral layer.…”

Role of Inflammation and Angiogenic Growth Factors in Malignant Mesothelioma

“…Asbestos fibers may induce mutagenicity and genotoxicity directly through physical interaction with the mitotic machinery after being phagocytized by the target cells, or indirectly as a result of DNA and chromosome damage caused by asbestos-induced reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) (Kamp & Weitzman, 1999;Shukla et al, 2003aShukla et al, , 2003b. ROS and RNS can be generated primarily by asbestos fibers or secondarily through fiber-induced inflammation (Aust et al, 2011;Gulumian, 2005;Hoidal, 2001). Free radicals generated from asbestos fibers plus the direct damage induced by the fibers are linked to cell signaling, inflammation, and a plethora of other responses (mutagenesis, proliferation, etc.)…”

Optimal Treatment Condition for Changing Characteristics of Naturally Occurring Asbestos

“…The major chemical factors may be related to the surface chemical composition and active surface states (Fubini and Arean, 1999). It is hypothesized that magnesium originating from chrysotile reacts intracellularly, thereby causing cytopathogenicity (Gulumian, 2005). Therefore, treatment methods should alter both the chemical and physical properties of asbestos to facilitate its detoxification (Nam et al, 2014).…”